So It Goes.

One of my favorite bloggers, Whiteny Matheson of USA TODAY’s Pop Candy, posted a link a few weeks ago to the Website Contrariwise, which features images of people’s literary tattoos.

There is a series on the site based around the phrase “so it goes” from Kurt Vonnegut’s book Slaughterhouse-Five. Something I read said Vonnegut uses the phrase 116 times throughout the novel.

I will admit up front that I have not read the book. But I loved the phrase’s meaning, and how much it meant to the people who tattooed it on themselves. So far 16 people have posted a photo of their “So It Goes” tattoo, some of which are quite beautiful.

Lately I have been trying to remind myself that life has one, and only one, guarantee–death. Marriage, love, happiness, and so forth, can come and go with one word, or one sentence, or the closing of one door. But that doesn’t mean we don’t get more chances, or that life will be over because that one marriage, or that one relationship, ceases to exist.

I think for people like me, who like to exert a certain amount of control over life, it’s important to realize that every day will include hundreds of unplanned events, moments, and conversations. Some of it will be forgotten in minutes, or hours, others will change the course of my life. I can be afraid, or I can understand, that this is how life goes.

From the words of those with the tattoo:

“Nothing is ever absolute.”

“I’m a worrier and it reminds me that not everything is in my control.”

“life continues on no matter what the circumstances”

“…no matter what stupid mistakes i make, no matter who dies, no matter what celebrity gets breast implants, NO MATTER WHAT – life goes on. so it goes.”